What were school social workers initially called?

What were school social workers initially called?

• A. Visiting teachers
• B. School counselors
• C. Social caseworkers
• D. Guidance teachers

Answer: (A)

School social work began with visiting teachers who went to students’ homes to support families and address barriers to learning. These early professionals combined educational help with social support, observing home conditions, assisting with attendance, and connecting families to community resources. That home-visit model established the idea of linking schooling with social welfare, which evolved into the school social worker role within schools. The other roles emerged later or in different systems: school counselors and guidance teachers concentrate on in-school counseling and guidance, while social caseworkers are typically tied to child welfare agencies. So the earliest name for this work was visiting teachers.

School social work began with visiting teachers who went to students’ homes to support families and address barriers to learning. These early professionals combined educational help with social support, observing home conditions, assisting with attendance, and connecting families to community resources. That home-visit model established the idea of linking schooling with social welfare, which evolved into the school social worker role within schools.

The other roles emerged later or in different systems: school counselors and guidance teachers concentrate on in-school counseling and guidance, while social caseworkers are typically tied to child welfare agencies. So the earliest name for this work was visiting teachers.